Imaginary Friend

Chapter 17 - Jack's Humiliation

I had been walking aimlessly all day. I just couldn't  get my mind off of everything that happened with Celia. I didn't expect to blow up like that, especially on her, I just didn't know what to think at the time. Was she really jealous of those girls? Did she really not want me to be happy? Was she just looking out for me? She mentioned something about Quinn, Elle, and Cindy doing something tonight, but I didn't even let her finish, so I couldn't possibly know what she was going to tell me. Was it vital information or was it more drabble that would prove my theory of her being jealous? These thoughts flooded my mind as I continued to walk to my destination. 

Finally, I reached the address I had been longing to get to. I clutched the letter that was inside the white envelope in my hand. I read off the address one more time, then looked up at the house. It was an enormous house, the outside of it white and grey with black awnings. It was a nice house, I must admit. Way out of my price range, obviously. Loud and vibrant music was blasting out of the house, and I could see in the windows people partying and having a good time. I smiled and started to walk up the driveway to Quinn's house, stuffing the letter back into my pocket. I put my hands in my pocket and started to walk throughout the house, admiring everything.

I had to admit, the music was just a tad bit annoying. It was so loud, I could feel my ears bleeding. Hopefully not in a literal sense, though. Everybody was being loud and screaming for absolutely no reason. I chuckled to myself, thinking that when they grew into adults, they'd look back on these years with utter shame and embarrassment. I walked more around the house until I walked into the living room. "Oh, Jackie!" I heard a notorious voice call. I turned to see Quinn in a garish green dress walking towards me. "Glad to see you here!" She smirked. I nodded and looked around to avoid eye contact. She invited me to this thing and I'm grateful, but she still makes me feel weird. "Um, yeah. Thanks for inviting me." I thanked, wanting to leave her presence.

As I spoke, Elle and Cindy, both wearing the same garish pink dress, walked up to Quinn and I. "Yay, Jack, you came!" They both cried in unison. Are they fraternal twins or something? I nodded again, offering an awkward smile. "Yeah, I did." Suddenly, Quinn's boyfriend, Josh, walked up to me and slapped me on the back, which almost sent me flying forward. "Yo, it's Jack! Glad you made it." He turned to everyone. "Hey guys!" Almost everyone turned their head to face us. "Jack's here!" Everyone started to cheer and whoop. I looked around the house to see everyone with a smile on their face. They were feeling this way at my arrival? I felt so happy and different. Finally, people are acknowledging my existence. They're thanking me for merely arriving at a party. This is great!

I laughed with everyone and bowed, really hamming it up. They all cheered and then went back to talking in their groups. I turned to Josh and the girls and smiled. "I feel like this is going to be a memorable party." I smiled. They all turned to each other and smirked, which was a bit suspicious and weird, to say the least. "Yes.." Quinn hissed, slithering towards me. "It will be really memorable." She turned back to her cronies, still with an evil smirk on her face. "Come along, guys, I need your help with something." They all nodded and walked with her, passing by me, still smirking. That was odd and strange, but I'm not going to let it stop me from having a good time! 

 I walked to the kitchen to get a drink of water, interacting with the people who stopped me just to say hello. I felt so appreciated by everyone at the same time. This immense feeling of appreciation and pleasure just wouldn't go away. It's like I was drunk with power. The power of being the most popular person at this party. I wish this night would never end. Then, the thought of Celia rushed back into my mind. I left her there on that park bench. I hope she made it home safely and she's not too saddened. No, she wouldn't be, if my theory was correct, she'd just be jealous. Then again, she was crying..

As I thought about Celia, somebody tapped my shoulder. It was Quinn. "Hey, Jackie-Poo, can you come to the living room for a second?" She asked me. I nodded, smiling. I followed her to the living room where it seemed like everyone was waiting for us. I saw Cindy, Elle, and Josh sitting in the front. They all made a circle around this empty spot where evidently I could be standing. My hypothesis was indeed correct. Quinn led me to the empty spot and stood with her boyfriend. "We just wanted to say welcome to our school, Jack. And what better welcome then this!" She yelled. 

I heard scuffling footsteps behind me and liquid flowing. I didn't know what was happening at the time, but I was in for the surprise of my life. Suddenly, I felt icy cold water being poured on me. That was about the time that I went into shock. My whole body froze and I just fell to my knees, trying to shield myself from the water that was being poured on me. Gallons and gallons at a time, it seemed, as the two football players towered over me with buckets of the ice water. I couldn't do anything to prevent this. I heard the laughter of every person in the house echo, bouncing off the walls, into my ears. What was this sick game!? What was this welcome!? I needed to escape. I needed help, I was drowning. Drowning in my own subconscious. I needed someone, I needed Celia. Where are you? Someone, help me! Please!

In my mind I was screaming, I was begging for them to stop. About a minute went by, when the floodgates closed. They were out of water. I heard them throw the buckets to the floor, the metal tins clanging onto the tiled floor. Suddenly, I felt so cold. Colder than before. It felt like the froze my heart. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think, I just knelt there, helpless. I released my hands from on top of my head and looked around. Everyone was laughing at me and pointing. Some were crying because of how hard they had laughed. I looked around to see Quinn, Cindy, Elle, and Josh making a ruckus by laughing as well. "Welcome, loser!" Quinn yelled. Suddenly, I remembered what Celia was saying. That I shouldn't go to this party because the girls would do something to me. This is what they would do. They would humiliate me in front of the whole school.

I slowly stood up, some water cascading down my back. All of my clothing was sticking to me from the cold water, everything soaked and wet, and my hair drooping in front of my cobalt eyes. Suddenly, the laughter died down as I looked at everybody with a look of hurt, frustration, and anger. "This is what you people do to make yourselves feel better. This is just your insecurities." I whispered. The room went silent. They were all listening to my message. "Well, keep being insecure. I should have never come here." I cried, my voice breaking a bit. I ran to the open door and dashed out of the house, the cool breeze hitting me, amplified by a million because of the water that was dumped onto me. Even from far away, I could still hear their laughter as I left.

What in the world have I resorted to? I needed their approval. I wanted them to like me. I needed them to validate me, every choice I made and every turn I took. Nothing was like I expected it to be. They didn't appreciate me, this was all to humiliate me. How stupid was I to believe they would actually like me? I needed to get the sand out of my head and wake up. This was the real world. This is what reality was. Being real didn't seem so great anymore. I only thought it was great because of..Celia. Oh my god, Celia. I forgot about her. 

I left her there, I left her on that park bench. She was trying to save me, she was trying to tell me that they were not looking out for my best interests. They were not telling me that I was accepted or that I was in their group, or that I was cool enough to hang out with them. They wanted to show me how different I was from them. How only they were cool and that I was a fool for even thinking I was anywhere near their level of popularity. Celia was the only one I needed. She wasn't jealous, she was just trying to protect me. And I didn't listen to her.

I was so stupid to believe my own thoughts instead of relying on my best friend. The girl I considered a gift from God was now the person I abandoned. I can remember her face when I first, stupidly, yelled at her. She was hurt, broken. She probably thought I hated her. Celia, I don't hate you. I never could. I love you and trust you more than anyone else in this world. I was such an idiot for leaving her. As the thoughts flooded back to me, I realized that she was crying. I can't believe I made an angel cry. Isn't that punishable by death? I sure hope it isn't because, I need to go back to her. I looked around. I had no idea where I was. I was going to have to take quite a few buses to get back to where Celia was. 

I'm coming, Celia. I'm so sorry.